Staying in the game

SHELBY - Since 1999, the Golden Girls have teamed up to prove that age doesn't have to keep you from doing something you love.
"Most of us have always been active in doing sports," said Diane Singleton, who joined the team in its second year. "We all realize that we need to continue to do that."
The Golden Girls compete in the 60 to 65 age division and have qualified for the N.C. Senior Games in Raleigh. And this year, for the first time, the 55- to 59-year-old team will play in state competition.
"Last year we had a (55-59) team with some people from Gastonia," said Beth Tillman, a member of the Glamorous Gals. "We didn't want to go to state."
This year all of the people on the team are from Cleveland County.
"We wanted to go to state this year." Tillman said. "We feel like we have a pretty good team."
The benefits of staying active
Playing softball is good therapy for Tillman, who suffers from arthritis.
"It helps me to get out there and do," she said. "The whole point is to keep you active. If I sit down, I get stiff, but if I keep going, I do better."
Shirley Broughton, who plays for the Golden Girls, agrees.
"I can tell that it has helped me physically and mentally," Broughton said. "It's helped me being with other ladies my age. You see them doing thing sand you want to do them."
Broughton has fibromyalgia and although she has to be careful when she plays softball, she said it helps her with her pain.
"It keeps me from sitting around the house and doing nothing, which can make fibromyalgia worse," she said.
Broughton's teammate, Judy Latham, wanted to play to keep in shape.
"I played in the rec league at the park," she said. "I play for the exercise, the fresh air and the fellowship. You retain most of your skills - just a little slower."
Meeting new people
But the physical benefits they receive is just one of the reasons the women compete.
"We enjoy playing and getting out and being with other people," Tillman said. "We get together and eat and fellowship together."
Singleton said she's met a lot of nice ladies while playing for the Golden Girls.
"It's a lot of fun," she said.
Latham said she enjoys meeting new people in Cleveland County and in Raleigh.
To prepare for the state games in September, both teams are practicing and the Golden Girls are playing in a church league.
"It gives us some experience," Singleton said. "The teams we play are in their 20s and 30s, but we give them a little competition. It helps us a lot just to play in a game."